P-Noy backs De Lima’s statement at Corona impeachment trial, says it’s not "hearsay" because it’s valid "under the po

Philstar.com reports that President Noynoy Aquino is optimistic despite questions on whether Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima’s testimony-given on Day 23 of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona-is hearsay.

According to the report, De Lima had admitted that she "had no personal knowledge of what transpired in the Supreme Court (SC) with regard to its temporary restraining order allowing former president and current Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo to leave the country." As such, Senator Miriam Defensor pointed out that De Lima’s testimony was "hearsay" because it was only based on the dissenting opinion of SC Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

However, Aquino backed De Lima. He "pointed out that since De Lima is not a member of the SC, she could only rely on documents that are made public, like the dissenting opinions of Sereno and Justice Antonio Carpio." He said, "If you have an opinion over legal rulings, I think that it is valid and can be considered under the political dimension of the impeachment process."

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